Lighting fixture and the like



Dec. 31, 1929. D. HOLT 1,741,301

LIGHTING FIXTURE AND. THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-$heet 1 ffzzerzr' Jana fiOZ/ Dec. 31, 1929. D. HOLT 1,741,301

LIGHTING FIXTURE AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 31 1 929 TATES sure DGNALD HOLT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD HOLT CUMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LIGHTING FIXTURE AND THE LIKE Application filed May 14,

5 co-pending applications for Letters Patent of the United citatcs on improvements in lighting fixtures, Serial Nos. 193,554, 193,555 and 225,085. It will appear, however, that the features-of the invention are not limited to use with these particular fixture constructions.

ln the general type of fixture above referred to, there is provided a base member to which an arm, or arms, is swivelly connect-ed, so that said arm can be turned around into different positions to meet the convenience of the user. Sometimes a bracket support is substituted in place of the base member just referred to.

In either case, the electric cord for supplying current to the lamp is threaded up through or alongside of the arms and through or alongside of the base member itself. The particular form of swivel joint provided be tween the base member or bracket and the arm or arms is hollow or tubular so that the electric wires may be threaded up through said joint and along the arms. This type of construction is very desirable from numerous standpoints, including the fact'that by using it. it is possible to pass the electric wires up through the base member and then up through the swivel joint, thus effectively pro tecting the wires and also making an article of more pleasing appearance.

It has been found, however, that is arrangement presents the disadvantages that the turning of the arms on the base member twists the electric wires so that they soon become abraded or damaged, and even short-circuited. This condition is generally due to a continuous rotation of the arm in the same direction on the base member, so that the cord becomes twisted through a number of distinct, complete turns. The difficulty will be largely eliminated by providing a construction such that it is impossible to turn the arm more than a complete revolution, or a friction thereof, continuously in one direction. This will make it necessary to turn the arm back again 1928. Serial No. 277,599.

towards its initial position, and will thus prevent the electric wires or cord from being continuously twisted.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of extremely simple and convenient form for use in connection with base and bracket swivel-joint members of the general types disclosed in my aforesaid co-pending applications. This attachment is so arranged that when used it becomes impossible to turn the arm on the base member beyond a certain point, after which it must be turned backwardly if at all.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of an attachment which can be readily used on lamp stands and the like of a type already extensively in use.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a fixture which can be readily stamped out of sheet metal at an extremely low cost and readily applied to said fixtures practically without any redesigning or material alteration of them.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a base member having applied thereto a swivel joint cmbodying the features of the present invention and sho ving the manner in which the electric cord is run up through the swivel joint itself, a portion'of the base member bcing broken away to better illustrate the construction of the joint;

Fig. 2 shows a view at right angles to that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2; Y

Fig. 4 shows a horizontal section on the line 4. 4E of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the sheet metal rotation limiting device; and

. Fig. 6 shows a View similar to that of F ig. l, but illustrating the application of the present invention to a bracket type of construction, instead of a pedestal or base type.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the base member in its entirety is designated by the numeral 7. At one side, or in its rear portion, it is provided with an upstanding boss 8, beneath which there is conveniently formed a pocket or socket 9.

The bracket arm is connected to ajoint member 11 comprising a pair of relatively rotatable elements 12 and 13; and the ele- 13 thereof is connected to a collar ele- Said collar element in turn is either "ed to a stem 15 which reaches down and is journaled in the boss 8, or,

e. aer ,2 of rotation on or with thestem 15, and the collar lei rotates with respect to the boss 8. A nut or other securing means 16 is placed on the lower end of the stem 15 and is acile through the pocket 9 lhe electric wire or cord 17 passes through a suitable bushing 18 into the pocket 9, and thence up through the nut 16 and stem 15, and out at the upper end of the collar 14, and then said cord passes through the joint member 11 and enters and passes through the arm 10. It will be evident that, in case the joint member 11 together with the arm 10 should be turned around on the boss 8, the wire or cord will be twisted, and, in the absence of any restraining or limiting means, this twisting may continue indefinitely until finally the wire or cord has been damaged.

Intermediate between the top of the boss 8 and the collar 14, I place a washer or flange 19. The same is shown in detail in Fig. 5. It has a central perforation 20 of proper size to receive the stem 15. It also has a pair of upstanding cars 21 and 22 which receive between them the sidewise projecting lingers 23 by means of which the joint member 11 is connected to the collar 14. This feature will be readily understood from a comparison of the ditlerent figures, wherein it will be seen that the member 23 has a relatively thin or narrow, vertical neck which is received between the two fingers 21 and 22 of the washer element 1.9. As a consequence, said Washer elementis compelled to rotate back and forth with the joint member 11, and therefore it follows the swings of the bracket element 10. The washer member 19 is also provided with a downwardly depending linger 2a which sweeps around the outside of the boss 8. A 25 or other convenient stop, such as a screw or pin, is formed or placed on the boss 8, so that the finger 24: will strike the same in its swings, and thus limit the turning IHOVGIHGH'E of the bracket arm. When so limited, the bracket arm can only be moved back towards the position from which it came. It will be understood that the washer ture 19 can be readily used in conjunction with lighting fixtures of a type already extensively in use by simply allowing the collar 14: to be raised slightly above the top of the boss 8 to accommodate the thickness of the member 19. In those cases in which the boss 8 has already been formed, a suitable stop 25 can be readily attached to said boss, as, for example, a screw or pin. In other cases, the lug 25 may be readily cast integral with the boss 8.

In the modified construction of Fig. 6. the base member 7 has been dispensed With, and in place thereof there is shown a bracket arm 26 adjustably connected to a pin or rod 27, as by means of a wing nut 28. The arm 26 is provided with the boss 8, upon which the parts are mounted in the previous con struction.

llhile I have herein shown and described only certain embodiments of the features of my present invention, still it will be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereto except as I may do so in the claim v I claim:

In a lighting; fixture of the type described, the combination with a base member, a swinging arm member, tubular pivotal member, and a relatively narrow connection between the hollow tubular member and the swinging arm member, of means for limiting the rotative movement of the swinging arm memher with respect to the base member com prising a washer seated on the hollow member and between the base member and the swinging arm member, a pair of upstanding lingers on the washer member spaced to closely receive the relatively narrow connection aforesaid of the swinging arm member between them to compel the washer member to rotate with the swinging arm member, and a downwardly depending finger on the washer member and a suitable stop on the base member to limit the retative movement 01" said linger, substantiallyas described.

DONALD HOLT. 

